KARACHI: The Pakistan Business Council (PBC) has informed the higher authorities that the massive under-invoicing, especially by commercial importers, is destroying domestic industry.
In its proposals for budget 2021/2022 the PBC pointed out that across the board massive under invoicing and dumping of imported products has been increasing.
Information regarding values at which various custom check posts clear import consignments is not publicly available.
This encourages unscrupulous importers to under-declare the value of consignments to evade government revenues.
Values at which import shipments are cleared through PRAL or CARE need to be publicly available.
The Government of Pakistan must insist of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), for both Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and non-FTA imports from China & other major trading partners China & other major trading partners.
In future the requirement of EDI should be made compulsory for imports from FTA / PTA & major trading partner countries.
The rate of withholding tax on imports for commercial importers should be at least 2 percent higher than what it currently is and the Withholding tax should be considered as an adjustable advance tax.
Valuation Ruling should be issued in consultation with Brand owners, i.e., who have valid registration of the brands under relevant intellectual property laws.
